Just two weeks after becoming Bucs, the members of Tampa Bay’s 2026 draft and undrafted free agent classes took the practice fields at the AdventHealth Training Center Friday afternoon for Day 1 of rookie mini-camp. With them were some more rookie camp invitees, as well as some members of last year’s practice squad who are looking to stick with the Buccaneers this year.

Friday’s practice was held under sunny skies with the temperature near 90 degrees and ran from 1:15 p.m. until about 2:40 p.m., making it a session of just under 90 minutes. Rookie mini-camp will continue with another practice Saturday afternoon, then voluntary OTAs will follow later this month as the rookies will get a chance to come together with the veterans for the first time in a semi-official capacity.

Outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr., inside linebacker Josiah Trotter, defensive back Keionte Scott and defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart all spoke with the media ahead of Friday’s practice, while Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles held a post-practice press conference to discuss the events of the day.

Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds, Matt Matera, Adam Slivon, Bailey Adams and Kat Beutel were on hand for all of it. Here are some of the main observations and takeaways from Friday at One Buc Place.

Bucs’ Top Pick Rueben Bain Jr. Is Already In “Midseason Form”

Before you roll your eyes and call this an overreaction to one rookie mini-camp practice in shorts, jerseys and helmets, take it straight from head coach Todd Bowles re: initial impressions of 2026 first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. He said it, not us.

“He looked like he was in midseason form,” Bowles said. “Obviously, he’s from Miami, so he’s going to be practicing in the heat where a lot of the other guys are going to struggle to adjust to this weather. So, it didn’t bother him at all. He came in in great shape and he ran around well and kind of picked up some things very well.”

Bain certainly did look the part throughout Friday’s practice simply with the way he approached every period and every rep. He was running hard from spot to spot in between periods and getting after it hard every time he took a rep, whether it was against air, hitting the sled, working his way around coaches or taking snaps in the full team period.

Bain, donning his No. 3 jersey, came into his press conference Friday afternoon with the same business-like demeanor he showed on draft night and in his introductory press conference the following day. But make no mistake about it: The rookie pass rusher is happy to be in Tampa Bay and clearly can’t wait to get it going with his new teammates.

“I’ve been on cloud nine ever since I walked in, just enjoying the process, enjoying where I’m at,” Bain said. “I’m happy, man. I’m where I’m supposed to be. I’m with my friends, my team. I’m home. So, I can’t complain about anything.”

Bucs OLB Rueben Bain Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Ted Hurst Signs His Contract, Then Ends Practice With Day’s Top Play

There was predictably a lot of teaching going on throughout Friday’s rookie mini-camp practice. Most of these players just arrived this week and are still adjusting to the playbook, the schedule and NFL life itself. And in the case of third-round pick Ted Hurst, he only just arrived last night. He had a good reason for being a bit of a late arrival, as he graduated from Georgia State on Thursday.

Hurst’s whirlwind of a 48 hours continued Friday as he signed his rookie contract with the Bucs and then took the field for his first NFL practice soon after. And while much of the day was about teaching and going through position drills, the team did break into full 11-on-11s to end practice. While some of the tryout receivers made some intermediate receptions early on, it was Hurst who made the biggest play of the afternoon.

On the final play of practice, Hurst ran a smooth route with an outstanding release before hauling in a deep pass from undrafted signee Jalon Daniels in between two defenders. He ended up just shy of the goal line, but it was the play of the day nonetheless, and it came in just before the airhorn sounded to signal the end of practice.

After practice, Todd Bowles was complimentary of the rookie receiver.

“Great size, very good athlete,” Bowles said. “Obviously, he’s got to get used to the heat a little bit himself. Even though he’s from Georgia, he’s got to get used to the heat a little bit. But you can see the athleticism and the size and what you liked about him coming out from the draft, so he’s just going to get better and better as he learns the system and gets more comfortable. But he looks good on the hoof and he moves very smoothly.

New Bucs Coaches Bring Some Much-Needed Energy

The rookies weren’t the only new faces out on the practice fields at the AdventHealth Training Center on Friday, as it also served as the first chance for the media to see some of the Bucs’ newly hired coaches in a practice setting.

Right from the jump, new special teams coordinator Danny Smith lived up to his reputation as a loud, high-energy, gum-chewing 72-year-old whose intensity level hasn’t wavered despite his age and experience in the league. After the team’s initial warmup period, the loud music from the speakers was replaced by Smith shouting instructions, encouragement and corrections to the rookies working through reps in the special teams period.

Bucs ST coordinator Danny Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Smith made a strong impression right away, and then it was new defensive line coach Marcus West who stood out as he coached up the interior linemen. It’s easy to see the kind of energy and hands-on approach he brings to a room that needed a new voice after last season.

West was seen standing in there taking on rushes from the defensive linemen and could be heard encouraging them to run through him, not around him. He even went as far as telling them, “I’m here to feel your punches.”

“Outstanding teacher. I think he sweats out there and works hard more than anybody out there,” Bowles said of West. “Love him as a teacher. I told him I don’t know CPR, so I can’t give him mouth-to-mouth if he passes out. But he does a very good job explaining the game to those guys. He’s been a great surprise.”

Other Notes And Observations From Day 1 Of Rookie Mini-Camp

• Fourth-round pick Keionte Scott, who the Bucs will be working in at nickel cornerback, came into his press conference ahead of practice sporting a sort of wrap/cast on his left hand. He told the media that it’s a wrist injury that he’s dealing with, and it was something that bothered him during the College Football Playoff run with Miami. However, he’s “on the better side of it” now and said he’ll get the cast off in 10 days.
• In addition to Scott, fifth-round defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart, undrafted free agent wide receiver Eric Rivers, tryout running back Michael Wiley and offseason defensive tackle signee Haggai Ndubuisi were all sidelined during Friday’s practice. Afterward, Bowles said Capehart is also dealing with a wrist injury and while he’s able to do some things, they want to give him a chance to get fully healthy.
• Undrafted free agent defensive lineman Deshawn McKnight walked off the field early with a trainer.
• Colorado School of Mines cornerback Jackson Zimmerman came the closest to a takeaway on the day, jumping in front of a Jalon Daniels pass and dropping an interception.
• Nash Hutmacher, who joined the Bucs last year as an undrafted defensive tackle out of Nebraska, is switching over to the offensive side of the ball this year. He’s getting a look at guard, which is something that was discussed between head coach Todd Bowles and Jason Licht last year.